Former home minister Umar Naseer has on Friday sent a letter to his party, PPM, office expressing his interest in contesting the 2018 presidential primary.
The letter addressed to party leader, Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, stated that he wishes to contest the presidential primary as per articles 29 and 68 of the party charter.
Umar Naseer, who recently resigned from President Abdulla Yameen’s cabinet following withdrawal of some of his powers as home minister, announced his decision to run in the 2018 presidential elections Friday evening.
After the announcement he told VNews that current situation of the country compelled him to arrive at this decision and that if he does not get the opportunity through PPM, he would contest as an independent candidate.
During a previous interview with VTV, Umar Naseer had said he would back President Yameen in the 2018 elections and contest 2023 presidential elections.
Meanwhile the ruling party’s parliamentary group is carrying out efforts to give the party ticket to President Yameen without a primary, which according to Gayyoom is a violation of the party charter.
Rifts within the ruling party escalated after the party’s parliamentary group voted in favor of a government-proposed amendment to the Tourism Act, against the Gayyoom’s wish. The bill, which proposes to allow government to regulate leasing of islands and lagoons without public announcement and bid process, and to impose Green Tax on guest houses, is against PPM charter and would be detrimental to the guest house industry, said Gayyoom.